Government has almost doubled the target for India’s plastics exports for the period 2024-25 after achieving 30% growth in FY22

After achieving a staggering 30 percent growth during the pandemic year 2021-22, the government has almost doubled the target for India’s plastics exports for the period 2024-25.

Despite Covid-related lockdowns at the beginning of the financial year, 2021-22, and supply chain disruptions thereafter, exports not only recovered in the second half but thrived and witnessed an emphatic growth. Consequently, India’s plastics exports which hovered between US$ 9 and 11 billion for the past several years, jumped sharply to US$ 13 billion in the financial year 2021-22.

Encouraged by this performance, India’s Commerce and Industry minister Piyush Goyal set a target of US$ 16 billion for the current financial year i.e. 2022-23, and US$ 25 billion for the financial year 2024-25.

While speaking on the sidelines of the Export Excellence Award hosted by the Plastics Export Promotion Council (Plexconcil), Goyal said on Saturday, “The Indian plastics industry has done well on the exports and domestic fronts and contributed significantly during the pandemic, particularly in supporting healthcare supplies to the country. The central government was supporting the plastics manufacturers, particularly to ensure that more Medium, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) should take the advantage of national and global market opportunities and provide more job opportunities to marginalized sectors.”

The Commerce and Industry Minister also urged the stakeholders of the Indian plastics industry to upgrade technology, equipment, and capacities to manufacture world-class, quality products and grab global opportunities for plastics to become the prime player. Goyal also stressed the need for sustainability by engaging in environment-friendly practices for plastics recycling.

Emphasizing the need for India to become 'aatmanirbhar', the minister exhorted the plastics industry to reduce import dependence and become the world’s premium supply hub. With a significant growth potential exists, Goyal asked the industry to continue its growth momentum in the future also.

The Indian plastics industry recorded a total volume of imports worth US$17 billion, around US$4 billion higher than the total value of exports. This means, there is a clear market for the domestic industry not only to capture the local markets with import substitution but also to accelerate exports.

“With an economy growing at 7-8 percent for the next 25 years, I am sure making the plastics industry a US$ 100 billion industry in the next 4-5 years is very much achievable. We must aspire to reach that level,” said Goyal.

The Minister set a target for the domestic plastics industry to treble its size to Rs 10 lakh crore in the next 4-5 years from the level of Rs 3 lakh crore now. This tremendous growth will provide huge employment opportunities to the youth, especially in the MSME sector, with the potential to provide jobs to the aspirants from the marginalized sections who have been left behind in the development cycle.

Speaking to Polymerupdate, Arvind Goenka, Chairman, Plexconcil, said, “India has signed a duty-concessional trade agreement with Saudi Arabia and Australia recently and also in the process to sign a similar agreement with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region and other developed and developing nations. Trade agreements especially those of the Gulf countries would help us tap many African markets where we see a huge potential for growth in India’s plastics exports. The industry will strive to achieve all these targets set by the government, of course, with enabling policy support.”

Instituted to felicitate exporters who achieved remarkable growth in India’s plastics exports, the Export Excellence Award will certainly encourage recipients to increase the shipment of value-added plastics products. The award will also encourage other players to tap new potential customers in the overseas markets.

“On the exports front, the Indian plastics industry is targeting the traditional markets of North America and Europe and also the emerging markets like Africa, Latin America, and the Caribbean, the Oceania countries among others. But, there is an immense opportunity lies for the Indian plastics industry to explore business potential in other markets also,” said Sribash Dasmohapatra, Executive Director, Plexconcil.

With adequate impetus from the government, the plastics industry is transforming from a linear to a circular economy benefitting all stakeholders.

Source: =”https://www.polymerupdate.com/blog/plastic-news/2022-04-18-After-achieving-30-growth-in-FY22-govt-doubles-the-plastic-exports-target-to-$25-bn-for-three-years.aspx?id=1163066&year=2022″ target=”_blank” rel=”noopener”>www.polymerupdate.com